The Pentagon issues immediate directives to test testosterone levels among military personnel - Sarmad

The U.S. Department of Defense, known as the Pentagon, has issued detailed directives establishing a new mandatory policy to screen for testosterone deficiency among active-duty and reserve military personnel aged 30 and older, moving forward with a decision announced by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth last July.

The directives, which take immediate effect, establish standardized pathways for testing and treatment for both men and women. The Pentagon states that the initiative aims to enhance combat readiness by identifying and addressing hormonal issues and endurance concerns.

Hegseth, who has advocated for the use of testosterone, announced this mandatory policy last month, prompting questions among experts regarding the scientific basis for such a measure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to convene an expert panel in the middle of this month to discuss the medical use of testosterone.

Under the directives, men aged 30 and older will undergo mandatory blood tests to measure testosterone levels, while younger men will be tested only upon request or if physicians observe warning signs.

For women, the guidelines do not mandate routine blood testing for testosterone but call for evaluation of fatigue and menstrual disorders that may be linked to hormonal imbalances, as well as two conditions known as low energy availability and relative energy deficiency in sport.

Physicians have expressed concerns that widespread testosterone screening could lead to unnecessary treatment or cause harm. They argue that there is little evidence that comprehensive screening for low testosterone among military personnel would improve U.S. combat readiness.